In a record which is both pleasing and vexing for Raiders fans, Canberra has now won its last 11th games at home, including all seven this year. However they are a shadow of that team on the road, winning just once away in 2013. They’re beginning to work toward striking distance of the club record home winning streak of 17. That was set across the 1993-95 seasons, when greats of the game like Mal Meninga and Ricky Stuart were still in lime green. Canberra hosts bottom side Parramatta after the bye next week, so the streak should stretch to 12.

Milford Experiment works

The decision to move Anthony Milford to fullback and shift Reece Robinson to wing showed promising signs for the Raiders. Milford has been eased into first grade from the bench, but his x-factor was evident in his first 80 minute NRL performance. He scored a flashy individual try with five minutes left off a scrum to seal the Raiders win, made nine tackle breaks and 152 metres. The move also allowed Canberra to field a much more balanced team. Shaun Berrigan came onto the bench to share the hooker role with Glen Buttriss, allowing Josh McCrone to remain in the halves with Terry Campese the entire game. It also meant Canberra fielded a more sturdy right edge defence in winger Robinson and centre Joel Thompson. With a more settled spine, the Green Machine’s attack clicked into gear.